A new language class doesn’t always click straight away. Language for Fun founder Jessica reflects on how it can take time to find your place, feel comfortable and start enjoying the conversation.
With a name like Language for Fun, you might be excused for expecting every class to be a blast from the moment everyone arrives. And while enjoyment is at the heart of what we do, the truth is that any new group can take a little time to warm up. People need time to get to know one another, find their place and feel comfortable enough to relax and join in.
I thought about this recently while starting to teach a new class. Despite my years of teaching languages, and having designed the Language for Fun method myself, being human I usually still feel a little nervous meeting a new group of learners. To add to this, my husband decided to join this particular class too. He’s a wonderful person, but he does like to answer all the questions! Having him there added another interesting dynamic while everyone was still working out where they fitted in, and that included me.
As those first few lessons unfolded, I began to see how differently everyone approached the class. I noticed some people were ready to answer straight away, while others preferred to listen and take things in before speaking. We were all finding our own way of being part of the group.
As we got to know one another, the different personalities and strengths within the group began to show. There was the person who was quick to grasp the grammar, the confident one who was always ready to try an answer and another quieter learner who seemed to know far more than they initially let on.
That’s one of the lovely things about being part of a class over time. You get to know your classmates through this shared experience of learning together.
Gradually, it becomes about more than learning the language. People help one another, conversations flow more easily and the room fills with more laughter. Friendships often form too, sometimes continuing outside the classroom.
And it isn’t only the learners who relax. As a teacher, I build my own connection with each member of the class and begin to feel able to have a bit more fun with everyone. People relax and it feels easier, but nobody suddenly stops making mistakes. The difference is that after a while, they don’t seem so worried about making them.
After a little period of settling in, the class began to really connect and feel comfortable, and I could see everyone enjoyed being there. And it reminded me that feeling at home in a language class isn’t something we should expect of ourselves immediately but something that develops as we get to know the people around us and realise that we don’t have to get everything right.
If you’re thinking about starting a language, or picking one up again, use our course search to find a friendly French, Spanish or Italian class near you or online. You don’t need to feel confident before you begin. That comes with time.